Children’s Sunday School Work Altamaha / New Sunbury Baptist Association COMPILED BY: JIM ELLIOTT

Children’s Sunday Children’s Sunday School WorkSchool Work

Children’s Sunday Children’s Sunday School WorkSchool Work

Altamaha / New SunburyBaptist Association

COMPILED BY:JIM ELLIOTT

Ages 6 and 7…Ages 6 and 7…

Understanding ChildrenUnderstanding Children

• are active learners;are active learners;• • are full of energy;are full of energy;• • have surface-level emotions (easy tears or have surface-level emotions (easy tears or

laughter);laughter);• • still like to be hugged (most of them);still like to be hugged (most of them);• • are becoming more fascinated with peers, but are becoming more fascinated with peers, but

parents are still close resources;parents are still close resources;• • enjoy informal play without many rules;enjoy informal play without many rules;• • are susceptible to imaginary fears;are susceptible to imaginary fears;• • show their feelings in behavior rather than show their feelings in behavior rather than

words;words;



• • are not fully developed in their fine motor skills;are not fully developed in their fine motor skills;• • are concrete thinkers who do not understand are concrete thinkers who do not understand

symbolic language;symbolic language;• • readily accept adult instruction;readily accept adult instruction;• • enjoy Bible stories;enjoy Bible stories;• • have short attention spans;have short attention spans;• • have limited reading skills;have limited reading skills;• • are eager to learn; andare eager to learn; and• • need activities in which they can be successful.need activities in which they can be successful.


Ages 8 and 9…Ages 8 and 9…• • enjoy games with exact rules;enjoy games with exact rules;• • are more group-focused and loyal to the group;are more group-focused and loyal to the group;• • have a greater dislike for the opposite sex;have a greater dislike for the opposite sex;• • are increasing in self-confidence due to growth are increasing in self-confidence due to growth

in mental and physical abilities;in mental and physical abilities;• • are generally cooperative and responsive to are generally cooperative and responsive to

authority;authority;• • have a stable activity level;have a stable activity level;• • are active learners who need involvement in the are active learners who need involvement in the

learning process;learning process;• • are achievement oriented;are achievement oriented;• • still find symbolic language a challenge;still find symbolic language a challenge;


Ages 8 and 9…Ages 8 and 9…• • enjoy sports and competitive games;enjoy sports and competitive games;• • maintain focus on a learning activity more maintain focus on a learning activity more

easily;easily;• • may tease others;may tease others;• • readily accept Bible truths;readily accept Bible truths;• • enjoy choices in the learning environment;enjoy choices in the learning environment;• • have more intense friendships;have more intense friendships;• • like fair play and demand adherence to the like fair play and demand adherence to the

rules;rules;• • don’t like adult guidance when they can do it don’t like adult guidance when they can do it

themselves; andthemselves; and• • are spiritually sensitiveare spiritually sensitive.



• • are more argumentative;are more argumentative;

• • are less cooperative;are less cooperative;

• • reject things considered childish;reject things considered childish;

• • experience that girls change faster than boys;experience that girls change faster than boys;

• • experience physical changes related to puberty experience physical changes related to puberty that that can cause anxiety;can cause anxiety;

• • are willing to admit an interest in the opposite are willing to admit an interest in the opposite sex;sex;

• • are sensitive to criticism and may be quick are sensitive to criticism and may be quick tempered;tempered;

• • are increasingly concerned about appearance;are increasingly concerned about appearance;

• • question adult teaching;question adult teaching;

• • ask probing questions;ask probing questions;



• • can think and reason on much deeper levels;can think and reason on much deeper levels;• • memorize easily;memorize easily;

• • make the shift from concrete to abstract make the shift from concrete to abstract thinking;thinking;

• • have a better understanding of symbolic have a better understanding of symbolic language;language;• • desire to be like their peers;desire to be like their peers;

• • feel an intense need to be accepted by their feel an intense need to be accepted by their peers;peers;

• • need acceptance and encouragement by adults;need acceptance and encouragement by adults;

• • dislike outward displays of affection; anddislike outward displays of affection; and

• • are usually ready for spiritual decisions.are usually ready for spiritual decisions.

Children's Sunday School Leadership Job Descriptions

Children's Sunday School Leadership Job Descriptions

Division Director Division Director

(where there (where there are two or are two or more more Children's Children's departments)departments): :

Enlist all department directors.

Provide training experiences for all workers.

Participate in planning meetings. Organize and maintain a resource system.

Attend Sunday School Council meetings.

Department Director Department Director

(where two or more teachers meet in one room with a group of children):

Lead teachers in all work of the Lead teachers in all work of the department including planning and department including planning and evaluating. evaluating.

Teach a small group of children during Teach a small group of children during Bible Study time. Bible Study time.

Guide Bible Study and Worship in the Guide Bible Study and Worship in the large group. large group.

Secure literature and resources.Secure literature and resources. Maintain department records. Maintain department records. Determine training needs and in Determine training needs and in

conjunction with the Sunday School conjunction with the Sunday School Director provide appropriate training Director provide appropriate training activities.activities.

Teacher Teacher

(when there is only (when there is only one teacher in one one teacher in one room with a group room with a group of children the of children the teacher will teacher will assume the assume the responsibilities of responsibilities of the Department the Department Director): Director):

Teach a small group of Teach a small group of children during Bible children during Bible Study time. Study time.

Participate in Bible Participate in Bible Study and Worship Study and Worship large group time. large group time.

Care for and minister Care for and minister to children and their to children and their families. families.

Enlisting andTraining Workers to

Lead Children

Enlisting andTraining Workers to

Lead Children

Act SMARTAct SMART

SSupport upport children’s children’s leaders with leaders with training, training, resources, resources, space, and space, and equipment.equipment.

Act SMARTAct SMART

SSupport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment.upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment.

MMeasure and Motivate. Children’s easure and Motivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and leaders need feedback and evaluationevaluation..

Act SMARTAct SMART


MMeasure and easure and MMotivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.

AAffirm. Children’s leaders need to be ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated.valuable and appreciated.

Act SMARTAct SMART

SSupport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and upport children’s leaders with training, resources, space, and equipment.equipment.

MMeasure and easure and MMotivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.evaluation.

AAffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated.effort is valuable and appreciated.

RReflect.eflect. Ask some questions and think Ask some questions and think carefully about your answers. Why are we carefully about your answers. Why are we doing what we are doing? Develop a vision doing what we are doing? Develop a vision for what God would have happen in the for what God would have happen in the ministry of Children’s Sunday School. Out of ministry of Children’s Sunday School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then celebrate that vision, set some goals. Then celebrate when God helps you reach them.when God helps you reach them.

Act SMARTAct SMART


MMeasure and easure and MMotivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.otivate. Children’s leaders need feedback and evaluation.

AAffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is ffirm. Children’s leaders need to be affirmed – to know that their effort is valuable and appreciated.valuable and appreciated.

RReflect. Ask some questions and think carefully about your answers. Why eflect. Ask some questions and think carefully about your answers. Why are we doing what we are doing? Develop a vision for what God would are we doing what we are doing? Develop a vision for what God would have happen in the ministry of Children’s Sunday School. Out of that have happen in the ministry of Children’s Sunday School. Out of that vision, set some goals. Then celebrate when God helps you reach them.vision, set some goals. Then celebrate when God helps you reach them.

TTenacious. You have to be tenacious when finding enacious. You have to be tenacious when finding other leaders. Look for people who share that other leaders. Look for people who share that tenacity, tenacity, but also people who are willing to workbut also people who are willing to work together and encourage and lift up one another.together and encourage and lift up one another.

Know What You Are Looking For


TeacherTeacher Department DirectorDepartment Director SecretarySecretary Children’s Division DirectorChildren’s Division Director Children’s Division Outreach-Children’s Division Outreach-

Evangelism LeaderEvangelism Leader

Know What You Are Looking ForKnow What You Are Looking For

TeacherTeacher Teaches a small group of children.Teaches a small group of children. Reaches out to find and enroll children.Reaches out to find and enroll children. Contacts absentees weekly.Contacts absentees weekly. Cares for and ministers to children and Cares for and ministers to children and

their families.their families. Witnesses to children and their families.Witnesses to children and their families. Fellowships with children and their Fellowships with children and their

families.families. Participates in regular planning.Participates in regular planning.



Department DirectorDepartment Director Leads teachers in all work of the Leads teachers in all work of the

department.department. Guides the large-group activities.Guides the large-group activities. Enlists all department workers.Enlists all department workers. Determines training needs.Determines training needs. Secures literature and resources.Secures literature and resources. Maintains department records.Maintains department records. Represents department on Sunday Represents department on Sunday

School Leadership Team.School Leadership Team.



SecretarySecretary Maintains department attendance Maintains department attendance

records.records. Maintains department reaching Maintains department reaching

contact records.contact records. Orders literature and other Orders literature and other

resources.resources.



Children’s Division DirectorChildren’s Division Director Enlists department directors.Enlists department directors. Plans and provides training for leaders.Plans and provides training for leaders. Participates in regular and annual planning.Participates in regular and annual planning. Meets with leaders to encourage, evaluate, Meets with leaders to encourage, evaluate,

discover needs, and build relationships.discover needs, and build relationships. Designs and is responsible for administering Designs and is responsible for administering

the division budget.the division budget. Attends Sunday School Leadership Team Attends Sunday School Leadership Team

meetings.meetings.


Children’s Division Outreach-Children’s Division Outreach-Evangelism LeaderEvangelism Leader

Leads department workers in Leads department workers in evangelistic visitation and prospect evangelistic visitation and prospect discovery.discovery.

Cooperates with the Sunday School Cooperates with the Sunday School outreach-evangelism director.outreach-evangelism director.



Essentials for New Leaders:Essentials for New Leaders: Children’s Sunday School Leaders Children’s Sunday School Leaders should be . . .should be . . .

. . . Christians,. . . Christians,

. . . Church members,. . . Church members,

. . . People who enjoy children,. . . People who enjoy children,

. . . Willing to be trained,. . . Willing to be trained,

. . . Committed to the objectives of Sunday . . . Committed to the objectives of Sunday School as strategy.School as strategy.


Essentials for Experienced Leaders:Essentials for Experienced Leaders: An experienced leader should be . . .An experienced leader should be . . .

. . . Engaged in Personal Growth . . . Engaged in Personal Growth through Bible Study.through Bible Study.

. . . Familiar with Children’s Bible . . . Familiar with Children’s Bible Stories and Memory Verses.Stories and Memory Verses.. . . Training other leaders.. . . Training other leaders.. . . Involved in Ministry.. . . Involved in Ministry.

How To Find What You Are Looking For

How To Find What You Are Looking For

In small groups . . .In small groups . . .

Brainstorm ways to find leaders for Brainstorm ways to find leaders for Children’s Sunday School.Children’s Sunday School.

List the ways you have discussed and be List the ways you have discussed and be prepared to share with the larger group.prepared to share with the larger group.

Guidelines for Maintaining Discipline

Guidelines for Maintaining Discipline

Keep your voice Keep your voice calm.calm.

Harness child’s Harness child’s behavior and behavior and

redirect it.redirect it.

Make requests, not Make requests, not commands.commands.

Leave rules to the Leave rules to the really important really important

things.things.

Don’t shame or make Don’t shame or make an example of a child an example of a child before a group.before a group.

Involve children in Involve children in desirable activities. They desirable activities. They will be happy, and less will be happy, and less trouble will arise, if trouble will arise, if activities are fun and activities are fun and interesting.interesting.

Keep explanations Keep explanations on the child’s level on the child’s level and don’t argue.and don’t argue.

Be firm, but kind.Be firm, but kind.

Remember that there are Remember that there are reasons for disobedience: reasons for disobedience: fatigue, sickness, insecurity, fatigue, sickness, insecurity, denial of attention, need for denial of attention, need for recognition, etc.recognition, etc.

The goal of all The goal of all discipline is self-discipline is self-discipline.discipline.

Parents and teachers Parents and teachers must set a good must set a good example of self-example of self-discipline.discipline.

Honor decisions Honor decisions after allowing after allowing choices.choices.

Let children share Let children share in making rules in making rules and plans.and plans.

Give some chores Give some chores to teach to teach responsibility.responsibility.

A child needs A child needs consistency.consistency.

A Child needs A Child needs loving when he is loving when he is least lovable.least lovable.

Divert trouble Divert trouble before it happens.before it happens.

Recognize that children Recognize that children are persons and that are persons and that they are going to have they are going to have some negative feelings.some negative feelings.

Evangelism With Children In TheSunday School

Evangelism With Children In TheSunday School

Help!Help!I’m a Children’sI’m a Children’s

Sunday School Sunday School LeaderLeader

Talk About You.Talk About You. When you were a child –When you were a child – What was your favorite What was your favorite

age?age? Why?Why?

Talk About Talk About You.You.

When you were a child -When you were a child - What was your favorite What was your favorite

subject in school?subject in school? Why?Why?


When you were a child -When you were a child - Did you enjoy sports and Did you enjoy sports and

physical activity?physical activity? Why? or Why not?Why? or Why not?


When you were a child When you were a child --

Who was your favorite Who was your favorite Bible character?Bible character?

Why?Why?


When you were a When you were a child - child -

Who was your hero?Who was your hero? Why?Why?

Talk About ChildrenTalk About Children

The previous questions . . .The previous questions . . .

. . . What did you learn from . . . What did you learn from yours and other’s answers?yours and other’s answers?

. . . Can you answer some or all . . . Can you answer some or all of of these questions for the these questions for the children children with whom you with whom you work?work?

Your Learning Style

Your Learning Style

Is it . . .Is it . . .

1. Auditory/Linguistic1. Auditory/Linguistic

2. Visual/Spatial2. Visual/Spatial

3. Kinesthetic/Bodily3. Kinesthetic/Bodily

Every child needs to . . .Every child needs to . . .

. . . grow in . . . grow in Bible knowledgeBible knowledge that enables the child to that enables the child to respond in respond in faithfaith to the to the

leadership of God’s Holy leadership of God’s Holy Spirit and to Spirit and to acceptaccept and and acknowledgeacknowledge Jesus as Jesus as Savior and Lord when Savior and Lord when

God’s Spirit leads him to God’s Spirit leads him to do so.do so.


. . . develop a Christian . . . develop a Christian concept of concept of personal personal worth worth - created in - created in

God’s image and one God’s image and one for whom for whom ChristChrist died. died.


. . . grow in understanding . . . grow in understanding what the what the BibleBible teaches teaches

about people’s relationship about people’s relationship to to GodGod, , JesusJesus, the , the churchchurch, ,

the the familyfamily, , othersothers, the , the natural worldnatural world, and the , and the

BibleBible..


. . . develop a . . . develop a conscience conscience that is that is

increasingly sensitive increasingly sensitive to Bible to Bible TeachingsTeachings..


. . . learn, accept, and . . . learn, accept, and livelive by Christian by Christian

values through the values through the power of God at work power of God at work

in his or her in his or her lifelife..


. . . grow in those . . . grow in those Bible Bible studystudy skills that skills that

enable believers to enable believers to properly properly interpretinterpret and and applyapply the message of the message of

God’s Word.God’s Word.

Objectives of Bible Objectives of Bible Study for Study for

Children…Children…Christian knowledge Christian knowledge and understanding of and understanding of

the Bible and the the Bible and the Church.Church.

Objectives of Bible Objectives of Bible Study for Study for

Children…Children…Christian attitudes and Christian attitudes and

convictions with regard to convictions with regard to God, Jesus, self, others, God, Jesus, self, others,

family, the Bible, and the family, the Bible, and the natural world.natural world.

Objectives of Bible Objectives of Bible Study for Children…Study for Children…

Christian livingChristian living


Christian WorshipChristian Worship


Christian service - with Christian service - with emphasis on ministering emphasis on ministering

and witnessing to and witnessing to others.others.

Objectives of Bible Objectives of Bible Study for Children…Study for Children…Christian ConversionChristian Conversion


Church MembershipChurch Membership

How Children Grow How Children Grow According to God’s According to God’s

PlanPlan““And Jesus increased in And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and in favour with God and

man.man. Luke 2:52Luke 2:52

How Children Grow According to God’s Plan


1.1. Children are Children are learning learning

physical skills physical skills necessary for necessary for

games and games and work.work.



2. 2. Children Children are are

developing developing attitudes attitudes toward toward

themselves themselves as growing as growing persons.persons.



3. Children 3. Children are learning are learning to get along to get along with others.with others.



4. Children 4. Children are are

learning learning appropriate appropriate female and female and male roles.male roles.



5. Children are 5. Children are developing developing concepts concepts

necessary for necessary for everyday everyday

living.living.




developing developing fundamental fundamental

skills in skills in reading, reading,

writing, and writing, and calculating.calculating.




developing developing a a

conscience, conscience, morals, and morals, and

values.values.



8. Children are 8. Children are beginning to beginning to

achieve achieve personal personal

independencindependence.e.




developing developing attitudes attitudes toward toward social social

groups and groups and institutionsinstitutions

..

Why do we teach children in Sunday School as we do?

Why do we teach children in Sunday School as we do?

When can a child believe?When can a

child believe?

Controlling FactorsControlling Factors

Physical DevelopmentPhysical Development Mental DevelopmentMental Development Emotional DevelopmentEmotional Development Spiritual DevelopmentSpiritual Development

PHYSICAL GROWTHPHYSICAL GROWTH

Physical Growth comes naturallyPhysical Growth comes naturally Proper diets and etc result in solid Proper diets and etc result in solid

growth for childrengrowth for children

Tell us about . . .Tell us about . . .

PhysicalPhysical

DevelopmentDevelopment



THEY NEED ASSISTANCETHEY NEED ASSISTANCE

Mental Growth does not always Mental Growth does not always come naturally for everyone……come naturally for everyone……


MentalMental



Physical DevelopmentPhysical Development Mental DevelopmentMental Development Emotional Emotional

DevelopmentDevelopment Spiritual DevelopmentSpiritual Development

Children Need SupportChildren Need Support

Emotional Stability is vital in their Emotional Stability is vital in their liveslives


EmotionalEmotional




GREATEST NEED !!GREATEST NEED !!

Bible Stories ! Bible Stories ! JESUS!JESUS!


SpiritualSpiritual


So . . .So . . .

How can I know when How can I know when a child is ready to a child is ready to

become a Christian?become a Christian?

Watch for reactions to Watch for reactions to “Spiritual” stimuli.“Spiritual” stimuli.

Be sensitive to any emotional Be sensitive to any emotional or behavioral changes.or behavioral changes.

Listen to the questions he Listen to the questions he asks.asks.

Pray for wisdom.Pray for wisdom.

Readiness To Accept ChristReadiness To Accept Christ

He who goes to and fro, He who goes to and fro, weeping, carrying his bag of weeping, carrying his bag of

seed, shall indeed come again seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy bringing with a shout of joy bringing

his sheaves with him.his sheaves with him.Psalm 126:6 NASBPsalm 126:6 NASB

ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCEADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE

Associational Empowerment Team is Associational Empowerment Team is available to assist in any way possibleavailable to assist in any way possible

Training events through AssociationTraining events through Association Training through the GBCTraining through the GBC CONTACT ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOR CONTACT ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOR

INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE A INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE A TRAINING EVENTTRAINING EVENT

Documents

Children’s Sunday School Work Altamaha / New Sunbury Baptist Association COMPILED BY: JIM ELLIOTT